Chaplin literally skidded into Chicago when he tripped and fell as he stepped off the train at Dearborn Station. He arrived from California en route to New York for the premiere of The Gold Rush. During his overnight stay at the Blackstone he was interviewed by a local reporter who asked about his wife (Lita Grey) and newborn son, Charlie, Jr., whom the interviewer referred to as "Spencer" (his middle name). Charlie was asked if he would like to make an actor of "Spencer":
"Oh no, I will not handicap the lad like that. We'll wait until he grows up and let him choose his own career."
"Mrs. Chaplin and the boy are fine," he continued. "But they weren't up to the trip to New York yet, so I left them at home."The reporter also remarked on Charlie's gray hair:
The beloved actor was found in his room, rather sad faced, his countenance deeply lined, and his eyes somewhat sunken. And he is getting distinctly gray, he admitted it ruefully, the while stroking the curls once so black and now streaked so abundantly as to make them iron-gray.
But the Chaplin smile was still with him, and when he registered it, he looked like the old time Charlie again." (Chicago Tribune, Aug. 2nd. 1925)
He does look so serious during this time period until the later 20s. I cringed when Litt said of their marriage trip to Mexico ...she thought he was acting deranged. He coulda had a minister marry them at home? I hope he wasn't abusing substances back at the time like the rest of Hollywood.
ReplyDeleteI don't think drugs - I think he truly was unbalanced because of the stress of the situation HE GOT HIMSELF INTO. I mean, really, Charlie, what did you think would happen if you kept having sex with Lita? There would be LESS of a chance of a pregnancy?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not drugs. I agree with JM, he was just pissed off about being forced into a marriage he didn't want. I've always been surprised by Chaplin's naiveté about impregnating women--it was as if he had nothing to do with it at all.
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